Cowboys downplay their jump into first place in NFC East

Cowboys focused on Dolphins game, not standings.

Updated 12:17 am, Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo rejoices as he leaves FedEx Field following Sunday’s 27-24 overtime victory over the Washington Redskins.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo rejoices as he leaves FedEx Field following Sunday’s 27-24 overtime victory over the Washington Redskins.

Photo: EVAN VUCCI, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cowboys downplay their jump into first place in NFC East

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IRVING — Call them the Blinder 'Boys.

Buying in completely to Jason Garrett's single-minded approach to life in the NFL, the red-hot Dallas Cowboys say they have zero interest in anything going on outside their locker room.

And that includes the shifting NFC East standings.

“One thing Jason said that really stands out is that we need to just play with blinders on,” nose tackle Jay Ratliff said. “Just look at what we're doing and work on the things we can control.”

Since scoreboard watching goes against Garrett's philosophy, there was no great rush after the players returned from Washington on Sunday night to find a TV set to watch the end of the New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles game.

The Eagles' 17-10 upset, coupled with the Cowboys beating the Redskins 27-24 in overtime earlier in the day, vaulted Dallas (6-4) into a first-place tie with the Giants in the East with six games remaining.

That development, however, barely caused a ripple in the Cowboys' locker room, where preparing for Thursday's game against the surging Miami Dolphins (3-7) was the No. 1 priority.

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“It really wasn't our focus,” safety Abram Elam said of watching the Eagles and Giants. “It's a short week. Our focus is Miami.

“We can't control the standings. They'll probably be different next week, so what can we do about that? It's been changing all year. If you focus on that, you'll be left behind.”

Given up for dead by many after they absorbed a 27-point thumping in Philadelphia three weeks ago that dropped them to 3-4 and into a three-way tie for last behind the 5-2 Giants, the Cowboys can gain their first four-game win streak since Weeks 5-9 in 2009 with a win over the Dolphins.

With the Giants playing next Monday at New Orleans (7-3), Dallas could be alone in first by week's end.

Still, Garrett's only concern is beating Miami, which has also won three straight.

“We're not real concerned about the standings,” Garrett said. “We're concerned about the Miami Dolphins at our place at 3:15 on Thursday.

“Everyone chuckles when I say that, but it's the truth.”

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Battling to the finish?

The Cowboys and the Giants are tied for the NFC East lead at 6-4. Here’s a look at their remaining six opponents.

COWBOYS (6-4)

• Thursday vs. Dolphins (3-7)

• Dec. 4 @Cardinals (3-7)

• Dec. 11 vs. Giants (6-4)

• Dec. 17 @Buccaneers (4-6)

• Dec. 24 vs. Eagles (4-6)

• Jan. 1 @Giants (6-4)

GIANTS (6-4)

• Monday @Saints (7-3)

• Dec. 4 vs. Packers (10-0)

• Dec. 11 @Cowboys (6-4)

• Dec. 18 vs. Redskins (3-7)

• Dec. 24 @Jets (5-5)

• Jan. 1 vs. Cowboys (6-4)

With Miami looming, Dallas had little time to savor its second OT win of the season. Several players went from the plane to Valley Ranch for treatment. Garrett was there all night, working on the game plan.

On Monday, he stressed yet again the need for the players to live in the moment.

“That's something he's always talking about,” Ratliff said. “You can see the team as a whole buying in.”

What they've also bought into is the desire to make amends for the humiliation they suffered in Philadelphia.

“That Eagles game put a nasty taste in our mouth,” Ratliff said. “That's something we never want to feel again. ... That game was a wake-up call. We really need to take things more serious and get out there and just do our job.”

With blinders on.

﻿INJURY REPORT: Fullback Tony Fiammetta continues to suffer from nausea, making his status for Thursday uncertain. Fiammetta was inactive Sunday. ... Safety Gerald Sensabaugh's status is also uncertain after he sprained his right foot Sunday. ... Miles Austin (hamstring), Mike Jenkins (hamstring) and Jon Kitna (back) also didn't practice.